Lock mechanism



Feb. 2, 1954 N. SCHMITT 2,668,070

LOCK MECHANISM Filed June 5, 1951 I l gmmiil l 41 1 Ill i=4 36 INVENTOR. N/cxows ScHM/rr Patented Feb. 2, 1954 LOCK MECHANISM I Nickolas Schmitt, Wolverine, Mich.

Application June 5, 1951, Serial No. 229,999

Claims.

The present invention relates to a lock mechanism which is adapted for use with doors of refrigerators, airplanes, automobiles and the like.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism for a door which will be noiseless at all times when the door is either open or closed and which is constructed and arranged to compensate for wear of its working parts to prevent rattling, vibrating or the like thereof after it has been in use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism of the foregoing character which can be opened by pushing against the push button and simultaneously pulling on the door, and which is constructed and arranged to remain closed in the event the door is not pulled simultaneously with the pushing action on the push button, thereby preventing accidental opening of the door if the push button is inadvertently depressed.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a lock mechanism of the foregoing character in which the lock mechanism will compensate for any misalignment of the door with respect to the door frame, and which has relatively few parts which can be economically produced.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a refrigerator with a lock mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing only the lock mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the lock mechanism with the top cover plate removed; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the portion of the lock mechanism installed in the door.

Before explaining the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment'of the present invention installed in a refrigerator unit. One portion of the lock mechanism is shown at In and is rigidly secured to the main body of the refrigerator unit l2. The other portion l4 of the lock unit is rigidly secured to the door IS. A push button 18 is provided for releasing the locking mechanism, and when it is desired to open the door t6, the push button I8 is depressed and a handle (not shown) is simultaneously pulled so that the door It can be swung open. It will be obstalled the conventional push button l8 hav- 1 ing the push rod 28 rigidly secured to the cap 30 and the compression spring 32 disposed between the cap 30 and the end of the housing 24 for maintaining the cap in its normal position shown in Fig. 2. On the inner end of the push rod 28 is the triangular shaped wedge member 34 whose purpose will be described more fully hereinafter.

The housing 24 has an upper plate structure 36 which can be removed by unscrewing the screw 38 to gain access to the interior of the housing 24. Fig. 3 illustrates the lock mechanism with the upper late structure 36 of the housing 24 removed. A transverse pin 40 is disposed between the upper plate structure 36 and the remainder of the housing 24 which serves as an axis for pivotal movement of the gripping elements of the present lock mechanism.

When the pin 22 is received within the slot 26, it will be firmly gripped by the dogs 44 and 46. The dog 44 is bifurcated as can be seen best in Fig. 2 and the other dog 46 extends between the bifurcated elements. Each of the dogs 44 and 46 is pivotally mounted on the transverse shaft 40 and each of the dogs 44 and 46 has a projection 48 and 50 respectively, which extend to positions adjacent the wedge member 34.

The ends of the extensions 48 and 50 are cut at an angle to be substantially parallel with the adjacent surfaces of the wedge member 34 so that when the latter is pushed into the housing 24 it will engage the end of the projections 48 3 and 50 causing the dogs 44 and 46 to be pivoted around the shaft 40, thereby causing opening of the dogs 44 and 46 and releasing of the pin 22. As can be understood, when this action occurs a door or the like containing the housing 24 can be pulled open.

A fiat spring 52 is secured to the housing as at 54 and engages each of the dogs 44 and 46 to bias them into a closed position. When the dogs 44 and "4 6*are op'enedby pushingon the push button I8 theywill be openedagainst the spring pressure of the spring 52 and when the push button I8 is released said spring 52 will again\ close the dogs 44 and 46. When the door-comtaining the housing 24 is opened, it can he closed merely by being swung shut andthel pinsfli-iurill engage the curved surfaces 56 of theidogsjd and 46 and will wedge the latter aparvagainsfthe spring action of spring 52, and when theirpiniizs is at the bottom of the recessed slot 26 the dogs 44 and-46- will close over the pin-iztdlock the door.

An important feature-of the present invention is-the-shape of-thedogs'44- and-46. The inner curvature-58 of each of the dogs-is concentric 29;, withtheaxis of the shaft/40; By virtue of this arrangement,- the dogs -44-and 45' can become worn en their inner -curvatures 58 .andthe spring 52 will then-bias the dogs 44 and 46 furtherinto a-closed position with -unworn I surfaces I engaging pin 22 so that such dogs-44 and 46 willalways maintain a firm gripon-thdpin Hand prevent vibration between the various parts. For. this same purpose, a smalliamount of clearance is providedbetween theends- 48 and 59 andthe Wedge member 44zso=that the=spring-52 can always bias thedogs and -46 to a full closed position without interferenceifrom 'the wedge member 34.

Onlyone spring, 52- is shown .in use, but: it should be-understood that if desired another springmaybe-mounted on the opposite side of the-housing to'act ina similar fashionas 52 acts. -However,. it isdesired to -use-only one spring .so thatwhenevernecessaryaremote control locking mechanismimay-be-used and such remote-control locking mechanism maybeinserted on the opposite sideof; thedogs 44;and-46 from; the spring lt is believedreadily clear to those skilled iflrthG'QItih-QvtIfl pin: maybe inserted through the housing 24 which will abut with the adjacent surfacesof: thedogsM- and 4B as-atiill to prevent pivotal movement of-said dogs. This "feature is particularly desirable, for example, in airplanes and thel-ike-where-it is desired that the .pilot he abletocontrol the opening-and closing of the T doorstc the plane. As can be understood. this can be carried out merely by having aremote control lever by which the pilot can release the pin which is installedat BO.

From the foregoing descriptiontit will be seen that the present invention provides alock me chanism which is cor-istructed and arranged to compensate for wear .ofthe dogs- 44 and 46 so as to prevent rattling of t he same sai'd loclimechanism beingiurther characterizedlin thatit'hasa rela- 85 tivel 'y few partswhich can be easily manufactured so asto produce the present invention ,ata relatively low price; 7 I

Having. thus describedamy invention, I claim:

'1. Alatchadapted to engage a p n c mpri a frame structure having a slot formed in one end-If'or receiving the pin, a transverse shaft mounted in saidrrame' structure inward of said $166,. a pair of oppositely disposed dogsipivotally mounted on s'aid"shaifti'or *holding'said pin, the

holding surfaces of each of said dogs being substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft, a spring actuated push rod mounted in the other end of said frame structure and having its one end extending toward said transverse shaft, projections extending from said dogs to opposite sides of said one end of the push rod and adapted to be spread apart when the latter is pushed inwardly against the action of its spring to open said dogs, .and'ispiing meansfor biasing said dogs to a-closedposition.

2. A latch adapted to engage a pin comprising aframe structure having a slot formed in one end i-forreceiving the pin, a transverse shaft mounted in said "frame structure inward of said slot, a pair :oftoppositelwdisposed dogs pivotally mounted on said shaft for holding said pin, the holding surfaces of-- each of said dogs being substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft, a spring actuated push rod mounted on the other end of said vframe structure and having; its one end, extending toward-said;transverse shaft for limited axiallmovement', projections extending from ,said dogs rto opposite sidesof said-one. end-of the push rod and adapted to he spreadapart when the latteris pushed inwardly againstthe action of its-spring toopen said dogs, theinner limit of movement of said push, rodbeingsuch' that said dogs will retain a limited holdon-said pin,and aspringmeans-for biasing; said: dogsto a closed position.

3, A latch:adaptedtoengage :apin comprising aframe structure havinga-slot-formed in one. end for receiving the pin, a-transverse shaft mountedin. said frame structure inward of said slot, apair of oppcsitely disposed dogs pivotally mounted on said shaft for holding said ,pin, the holding surfacesof eachofsaid dogs being; substantially concentric with' the axis of said shaft, a spring actuated pusharod mountedlon-the.other end of said frame -.str-ucture and having its one end extending towardsaidtransverse shaft, ,projections extending :frcm; said dogs to opposite sides-of saidone endof the push rodand adapted to. be spread apart-when the latter is pushed inwardly against theactionof its spring to open said dogs, and spring means for biasingsaid dogs maclosed position, said-.proj ectionsbeing; spaced alirnited distance from theend of said: push rod so that. they .do I not engage said push rod when ilhelatter is. spring biased to-its outermost posi- 4. A latch adaptedto-engageiapizrcomprising a frame structure having a slot formed-in one end for receiving the pin, a transverse shaft rnounted inhsaid. frame structureinward of said slot, a pair of oppositely disposed-dogs pivotally inonnted on said. shaft for holding said pin,v the holding-surfaces of each ofsaidrdogs being sub.-

stantially, concentric with-the) axis- .of. said shaft,

the outer surfaces of each of said dogs being curved so. that the pin can be pressed against such outer surfacesto, open the dogs, a spring actuated push rod mounted, en the other end of the frame structureand having its one end extending toward said transverse shaft, projecextendingfrom. said dogs toopposite sides of .saidioneend .of the push-rod and-adapted .to .be spread apart when the latter is pushed .inwardly againstthe action of. itsspring to open said dogs, and spring, means to bias said dogs to a closedpositi'on.

5'; A latch adapted to engage a pincomprising a framestructure having a slot formed in one end for receiving the pin, a transverse shaft mounted in said frame structure inward of said slot, a pair of oppositely disposed dogs pivotally mounted on said shaft for holding said pin, the holding surfaces of each of said dogs being substantially concentric with the axis of said shaft and shaped so that as the holding surfaces nearest the distal ends of the dogs are worn away or the radius of such last named holding surfaces are in any other way increased, the remaining holding surfaces will efiectively engage said pin and draw the same further into said slot when the dogs are fully closed, a spring actuated push rod mounted on the other end of said frame structure and having its one end extending toward said transverse shaft, projections extending from said dogs to opposite sides of said one end of the push rod and adapted to be spread apart when the latter is pushed inwardly against the action of its spring to open said dogs, and means to urge said dogs to a closed position.

NICKOLAS SCHMITT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 258,344 Altemiller May 23, 1882 1,574,023 Crompton et a1. Feb. 23, 1926 2,506,943 Shreve May 9, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 76,505 Sweden Feb. 14, 1933 424,361 Germany June 18, 1926 

